The balloons, the speeches and Jimmy Hill's song-and-dance act were all carefully scripted well in advance to echo Coventry City's farewell performance at Highfield Road.

But a few minutes after a scaled-down Parade Of Legends had been re-introduced to the crowd, the Sky Blues produced a flash of gloriously spontaneous virtuosity to bless the Ricoh Arena's first Saturday matinee with a priceless reenactment of the most famous goal in the club's history.

James Scowcroft teed up Gary McSheffrey's first-time cross from the left and Claus Jorgensen hurled himself full length to power a superb header into the top corner - stirring memories of Keith

Houchen's horizontal heroics at Wembley '87 and banishing any doubts that this match would live up to the occasion.

Fears that Ian Holloway's rugged Rangers might gate-crash the big day were also emphatically blown away as the Sky Blues proved that they were more than prepared to fight for the right to party.

The first-half, indeed, suggested that there must have been a glitch in the Ricoh's catering facilities and City had been forced to settle for a pre-match breakfast of raw meat.

Up for it and then some, they stretched the concept of uncompromising tackles - and tested referee Tony Leake's patience - to the limit and were more than a shade fortunate to reach the interval with only five cautions on their account.

Two QPR players were already on the deck when Matt Heath picked up the first yellow by dumping Paul Furlong from behind, and many officials would certainly have reached straight for the red when Marcus Hall launched his horrific flying jump at Gareth Ainsworth.

Robert Page, Sky Blues skip-per for the day after Stephen Hughes's Turf Moor indiscretions, could well have found himself added to the list when he aimed a retaliatory kick at Stefan Moore, but this time Mr Leake turned a diplomatic blind eye.

By far the most significant booking however, was Dele Adebola's lunge at Danny Shittu, a clumsy foul but a resounding statement of intent from the big striker that must secretly have delighted Micky Adams as much as it roused the home supporters.

With Stern John a notable absentee from the squad after his midweek international commitments (injured, jetlagged, dropped? "No comment," said Adams) Adebola and Scowcroft spearheaded City's 4-4-2 formation. And with Scowcroft clearly relishing the more advanced role, Adebola was spurred to perhaps his best Sky Blues dis-play to date, using his formidable physique and far from inconsiderable skill to come across as the complete Champ-ionship centre-forward - Adi Akinbiyi with ball control.

He demonstrated those twin qualities perfectly in the 24th minute when he opened his account for the season and earned City the luxury of a two-goal cushion. Matthew Rose looked a clear favourite to reach Michael Doyle's long ball down the right but Adebola hounded and hustled to snatch possession, twist round the full-back and slot a crisp shot inside Simon Royce's near post.

Twenty minutes later City's first win of the season was well and truly in the bag as Scowcroft clipped over a clever cross from the right, Dominic Shimmin's gruesomely miscued clearance sliced against the post and Adebola pounced before Royce or Marcus Bignot had the chance to react. A simple goal, yes, but fresh confirmation that Adebola was admirably eager and alert.

That hunger dealt Rangers another blow four minutes into the second half as Adebola was sent tumbling by Shittu as he again surged down the middle. It was a foul in two minor movements - a gentle tug on the shirt followed by a clip of the heels that looked more by accident than design - but the combined effect was a 'last defender' offence and an automatic red card.

That incident convinced Holloway that damage limitation was the best he could hope for and, with City quite rightly determined to avoid doing anything silly, the rest of the match was, if not exact-ly an anti-climax, then certainly a chillout session. But Adebola still came desperate-ly close to capping his man-ofthe-match contribution with a historic hat-trick.

An excellent move involving Michael Doyle and Andy Morrell left him free six yards out but with no angle to beat Royce, who bravely blocked with his knees. And two minutes Adebola went shoulder to shoulder with Shimmin in another lung-bursting run but simply ran out of steam as Royce dashed forward to collect. His reward was to be taken off three minutes time, granting him a standing ovation before he claimed his well-earned rest.

Although this was, in every sense of the word, an extraordinary day, the result - just seven days after City were teased and tormented at Burnley - is perhaps typical of a league in which form seems to count for nothing.

Realists will point out that Rangers, who had collected seven points from their first three outings, were short of half-a-dozen regulars, with 17-year-old debutant Shimmin shoved into the key defensive slot normally occupied by the formidable George Santos.

But City have had more than their fair share of such selection problems and they, like their fans, will surely take enormous encouragement from a display every inch as impressive and important as the 6-2 rout of Derby County in April that guaranteed they would start life in the Ricoh Arena as a Championship club.

Football supporters tend to be a nostalgic breed but this is a time for looking forward - and 16 weeks ago after saluted their proud past, Saturday offered them the signpost to a future of rich possibilities.